Woman Of The Month
Congratulations to our Woman of the Month for January 2012 Mrs Rima David. Mrs David began her life born on the 12 Feb 1941 in Avarua Rarotonga, and married to the late Ngatipuna David on the 3 Oct 1959 at the Titikaveka CICC Church by the Reverend Pure Au Akarauanga, together Mrs Rima and Ngatipuna David had six children, one daughter and five sons, however their extensive family also consisted of Mrs David mothering many feeding children.

Mrs Rima’s education began in 1946 where she enrolled at Ngatangiia Primary School for her introductory schooling after which she then attended Avarua School. Continuing her secondary schooling Mrs Rima then attended Tereora College completing in 1957. On the 4th December 1958 Mrs Rima began what would be a lengthy and accomplished career as a public servant within the justice department where she was first employed as a typist for the then government of the Cook Islands, six months later Mrs David was promoted to a position within the Justice department as a relieving typist and from there she worked her way through to become a Clerk in the Land Court Division of the Justice Department on the on 23 August 1965.
Three short years later on the 9th August 8 1968 Mrs David would advance, upon the recommendation of the then Chief Justice, to be appointed as a Deputy Registrar of the Meeting Land Court. Working and gaining valuable experience for the next four years Rima was then further promoted to the role of Acting Registrar in 1974, and in the next year, 1975 finally saw her being appointed Registrar of the Meeting Land Court of the Cook Islands.
With the passing of the Judicature Act 1981 which brought on the amalgamation of the two courts, being The Native Land Court and The High Court into one, to become The High Court of the Cook Islands Mrs David says her “position became defunct,” and so she was appointed Acting Deputy Registrar of the High Court of the Cook Islands. On the 21 June 1982 Rima was appointed as Acting Deputy Registrar of the births, deaths and marriages of the Cook Islands, “and I also became a marriage officer,” Mrs Rima David shares with me.
Later that year Mrs David was also selected to fill the position of receiver of the Public Moneys Act. Socially active and present within the greater community of the Cook Islands in 1984 Rima was elected as a treasurer for the CICC Women’s fellowship a position she held for 17 years and “served to the best of my ability,” says Mrs David.
During the duration of Mrs David’s employment she attended many conferences that addressed important issues within Pacific Island communities and travelled twice to Nukualofa, Tonga to attend the Royal Council of Church Conference which discussed the prevalent issue of Aids in the South Pacific. Mrs David describes herself as a “supporter of every event, either by attending, preparation or participation because I am a Mother of those children that have come across my assistance.”
With the turn of the Millennium Mrs David was still continuing her work as a public servant and on the 14 May 2001 her position heightened being sworn in as Justice of Peace for the Cook Islands by the then Queens Representative Sir Fredrick Goodwin in the Parliament House of the Cook Islands. However in late 2001 Mrs David retired accomplishing “forty two years and ten months, to be exact,” she adds, of service as a public servant to the Cook Island community.
An active member of the CICC religion Mrs David has left large shoes to fill as Rima has recently passed the responsibilities of the role that she diligently filled within the CICC Church to the capable hands of her fellow members and is proud to say that she has served the Church and the people of this community to the best of her ability giving her the honor and the privilege of becoming Woman of the Month. -Maria Tanner

Herald Issue 554 09 March
- Norm exposes Trio of Doom
- Briefs from PM’s media conference Tuesday
- Tourism Industry ponders $5 million draft strategy
- Norman George resigns from Cook Islands Party
- Letter of Resignation from CIP
- Norman selfish says Prime Minister